by Kaitlyn Edwards

Created on: March 15, 2010   Last Updated: November 30, 2011

A stroke (or cerebral vascular accident - CVA) is either a bleed or blood clot in the brain. It is serious condition, which has a high incidence of morbidity and mortality.

The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom has recently run a FAST campaign. The campaign aims to increase the general public's awareness of the signs and symptoms of a stroke.

F

Face

The face may be distorted. The eye and mouth may be drooped, and the person may be unable to smile. The pupil on the affected side of the brain wil be dilated and may be sluggish in it's movement.

A

Arm

There may be altered sensation in the arm and leg of the opposite side to the bleed or clot. This altered sensation varies from pins and needles or tingling, to paralysis of that side. It afects the opposite side of the body (for instance, the bleed/clot is on the right, the right side of the face will be affected, but the left side of the body), as the nerves cross in the neck, meaning the nerves on the right cross over in the neck, and become the nerves on the left side of the body.

S

Speech

Speech may be affected. The person may have slurred speech, be unable to speak appropriately or in coherent sentances, or be unable to speak.

T

Time

Time to call the emergency services. It is vital that this person gets to a hospital as soon as possible.

Whilst waiting for the ambulance to arrive, the person should be laid down on the floor. Their head and shoulders should be raised, rested on rolled up blankets, a cushion or rested in someone's hands, for example. They need to be reassured as it is likely that they will be very afraid.

If the person is unconscious, and not to be left, they need to be on their side. They should be laid on the side in which the stroke has occured, so, if the face is affected on the left, they need to be laid on their left side. This means that the pressure of the blood or clot will not affect the unaffected side of the brain. Lying the person on their side protects their airway if they vomit. The person should still be reassured, as they may still be able to hear. The person needs to be constantly monitiored and assessed, and any changes need to be communictaed to the emergency operated.

The person should not be given anything to eat or drink whilst waiting for the ambulance.

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